Dishwashing machine track sections and mounting means therefor



May 13, 1969 c. J. BlNKs ET AL 3,443,852

DISHWASHlNG MACHINE TRACK SECTIONS AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 16. 196e y sheet of 2 Ui QU @f l U@ U May 13, 1969 C. .LBINKs ET AL DISHWASHING MACHINE TRACK SECTIONS AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 1e. 196e sheet l l 1 l l I l l 4 United States Patent Q 3,443,852 DISHWASHING MACHINE TRACK SECTIONS AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Chester J. Binks, La Grange, and Casimer Janiszewski, Chicago, Ill., assignors to G. S. Blakeslee & Co., Cicero, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 594,784 Int. Cl. A47b 88/00; B08b 3/00; F16c 17/00 U.S. Cl. 312-350 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This -invention relates to dishwashing and analogous machines and has to do with track sections for such machines and means for removably and replaceably mounting the tracks sections.

The copending lapplication of John Cumm-ing, for Sectional Dishwashing Machine and Structural Units, Ser. No. 574,427, tiled Aug. 23, 1966, discloses a machine formed of similar sections or modules disposed end to end and provided with tracks along which articles being washed or rinsed are moved by suitable conveyor means. Our invention has to do with the track sections and associated means in such a machine. One of the objects of our invention is to provide means for mounting the track sections so that they may be readily removed and replaced as desired or as circumstances may require. A further object is to provide track mounting means which provides in cooper-ation with the track sect-ions reinforcing means for the respective modules or sections of the machine. Itis also an object of our invention to provide track section mounting means such that the respective modules of the machine may be provided with both upper and lower track sections or with upper track sections only, to conform to the type of conveyor means used for moving Ithe dishes and other articles through the machine. Further objects and advantages of our invention will appear from lthe detail description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side View of a module type of dishwashing machine embodying our invention, with the end portions broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale and partly broken away, taken substantially on line 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale and partly in section, of the adjoining end portions and associated parts of two modules or sections of the machine of FIGURES 1 and 2;

-FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View similar to FIGURE 4, of a modified form of rail section mounting means;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 7 7 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the rail section retaining clip shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

We have shown our invention as embodied in a dishwashing machine comprising a plurality of similar modules or sections 1 respectively comprising an open ended substantially rectangular box-like housing 2 mounted on a base frame 3 on which is mounted a motor-pump unit comprising a centrifugal pump 4 driven by an electric motor 5. Each of the sections 1 comprises a tank 6 underlying housing 2 (FIGURE 3). The pump 4 withdraws liquid, washing solution or rinse water, from tank 6 and ice delivers it under appropriate pressure to upper and lower spray boxes -7 and 8 in housing 2. The liquid sprays are directed downwardly and upwardly onto the dishes as they pass through the machine. The means for supplying liquid under pressure to the spray boxes 7 and 8, as well as the spray boxes and associated means, may be of any s-uitable type but preferably are the same as disclosed in the `above identified Cumming application. The motorpump unit is similar to that of Patent 3,108,607 issued Oct. 29, 1963 to David G. Blakeslee.

The front wall of each housing 2 is provided, at each end thereof, with an end panel 11 of channel cross section (FIGURE 3). The end panels 11 define, with the top wall of housing 2 and the front wall of tank 6, a door opening. A door 12 is slidably mounted for vert-ical movement on the inner sides of end panels 11 and 4may be raised and lowered for uncovering and covering the opening, as will be understood. The door and -associated parts preferably are the salme as in the above identified Cumming application. The particular door means provided is not essential to our invention and any suitable door means may be used, -as will be understood.

Each of the end panels 11 is provided at its outer edge with a flange 16 extending inwardly of housing 2 and, at its lower end, with an inwardly extending ilange 17 seating on a llange 18 extending inwardly from the upper edge of front wall 19 of tank 6. Flange 16 of panel 11 is accurately aligned and matched with a ilange 20 to extend inwardly from front wall 19 of tank 6, flange 20 also extending upwardly from end wall 21 of tank 6. The upper end of ilange 16 of panel 11 is accurately aligned and matched with a flange (not shown) extending downwardly from the end of the top wall of housing 2. The rear wall 22 of housing 2 is provided at each end thereof with an inwardly extending flange 23 (FIGURE 2) which is accurately aligned `and matched with a flange, similar to llange 20, extending upwardly from the rearward end of end wall 21 of tank 6. The rear Wall 22 of housing 2 is also provided at its lower edge with lan inwardly extending llange 24 seating on a flange, similar to flange 18, extending inwardly from the rear wall of tank 6. The llanges 17 of the end panels 11 are secured, preferably welded, to flanges 18 of front walls 19 of tank 6 and the llange 24 of wall 22 is also secured, preferably welded, to the corresponding flange of the back wall of tank 6.

The dishwashing machine illustrated by way of example comprises a main or body portion formed of similar modules or sections 2. The sections 2 are disposed in accurate alignment endwise with the end walls and llanges thereof in contact, except at the outer ends of the end sections. The contacting ends of the sections 2 are secured together by spot welding the end flanges and the top edge portions of the end walls 21 of the tanks 6 together. The welded joints are sealed water tight by channel strips 24 fittingly tightly over and cemented to the end flanges and upper edge portions of the end walls 21 of tanks 6. The channel strips 24 and the weld joined llanges provide a rigid and liquid tight connection between the contacting ends of the modules or sections 2. The latter are then l'ixedly secured together in accurate alignment and provide an open ended tunnel or housing of desired length.

Upper and lower rail section supporting brackets 27 are suitably secured, preferably by spot welding, at their outer portions, to the inner faces of end flanges 23 of rear wall 22 and of flanges 16 of panels 11. The inner portions of brackets 27 are offset from the respective ilanges, to clear the channel strips 24, as shown more clearly in FIGURES 3 and 5. Each of the brackets 27 is provided with two vertically spaced and aligned pins or studs 28 projecting therefrom and away from the corresponding flange, i.e., inwardly of the module or section 2. The studs 28 preferably but not necessarily, are cylindrical and of a diameter or cross section to fit snugly in a downwardly opening slot 29 in a tab 30 integral with and extending outwardly from one end of an upper vertical flange 31 of a rail section 32 of substantially Z-shape in cross section. The rail section 32 is formed -of stainless steel and comprises the upwardly extending ange 31, a horizontal track flange 33 extending inwardly from the lower edge of ange 31 and a vertical flange 34 extending downwardly from the inner edge of track flange 33. The rail sections may be of any suitable fo-rm within the broader aspects of my invention, as will be understood. There are two upper and two lower brackets 27 at each sidefront and backof each module or section 2, as shown in FIGURE 3, with the brackets of each pair disposed in the same horizontal plane, as will be understood. The length of each rail section 32 is such that the end tabs 30 thereof seat tightly against the brackets 27 with the studs 28 ting tightly in slots 29 of tabs 30 and the latter seating, at the upper ends of slots 29, on the upper studs 28. When the rail section 32 is so mounted it is effectively restrained against downward movement by the upper studs 28 and is also effectively restrained against looseness or twisting by the two studs 28 at each end thereof. The rail sections 32 seating tightly against the brackets 27 also serve as compression members effectively bracing the module or section 2 against endwise compression shocks or strains. The rail sections 32 may be readily removed by upward movement thereof to clear the studs 28 and may be as readily replaced as may be required.

Under normal operating conditions, the rail track sections 32 remain in proper position seated at the upper ends of slots 29 on the upper studs 28 of the brackets 27. Occasionally, however, one of the rail track sections 32 may be subjected to an upward blow or pressure and thereby raised at one or both ends out of seating contact with the upper studs 28. When that occurs, such rail section might tend to bind on the studs 28 so as to remain in raised position resulting in misalignment of the rail sections 32 lengthwise lof the machine. To guard against that we provide means whereby the tabs 30 of the rail sections 32 are positively held seated on the upper studs 28 and thereby restrained against upward movement. Referring to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, a spring steel retaining clip 45 having an upper hook portion 46 of inverted U- shape in cross section and a downwardly extending arm 47, of substantially greater length than the hook portion 46, is engaged over tab 30 of flange 31 of rail section 32. The hook portion 46 of clip 45 is of an interior width to tit tightly over the upper portions of tab 30 and the inner olset portion of bracket 27 with its shorter arm 48 extending into the space between channel strip 24 and the body portion of bracket 27. The longerarm 47 of clip 45 is provided, at its lower end, with an outwardly directed narrow flange or lip 49. Arm 47 is also provided with a circular opening 50 of proper diameter and disposed to receive snugly the upper stud 28 of bracket 27, when clip 45 is in its full operative position. With tab 30 of the rail section 32 in its fully lowered position, seating on the upper stud 28, the clip 45 is pushed downwardly to its full operative position,v being then guided by tab 30 and channel strip 24. As the clip 45 moves downwardly arm 48 thereof first engages over the upper edge portions of the body of bracket 27. Shortly therafter lip 49 of arm 47, joined to the latter by a rounded surface, contacts the upper stud 28, which forces arm 47 outwardly away from tab 30. In the continued downward movement of clip 45 opening 50 of arm 47 is aligned with the upper stud 28. When that occurs arm 47, due to its inherent resiliency, snaps to position over stud 28 so as to seat against the corresponding face of tab 30. The hook 46 of clip 45 is then engaged about the upper portions of bracket 27 and tab 30, seating on the upper edges thereof, with the upper stud 28 extending through opening 50 in arm 47 of clip 45. The latter then effectively secures the end of the rail section 32 against upward movement and assures that tab 30 thereof will remain seated upon the upper stud 28 of the bracket 27. The lip 49 at the lower end of arm 47 of clip 45 also provides an element which may be gripped for pulling arm 47 away from tab 30 and clear of the upper stud 28. That permits ready removal of the clips 45 so that the rail section 32 may be removed, when desired or necessary.

The machine illustrated by way of example is of the flight conveyor type in which the dishes and other articles are moved through the machine by an endless conveyor. The conveyor C may be of any suitable type, but preferably is similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 3,086,641, issued Apr. 23, 1963 to John Cumming, and a brief description thereof will suice. It comprises roller link assemblies which each include a roller 37 riveted between two side links 35, and the adjacent roller link assemblies are interconnected by cross rods 36. The rollers 37 travel along the upper faces of the tread flanges 33 of the rail track sections 32 in housing 2. The conveyor C is driven by suitable means, preferably that shown in the above identified Cumming application, though it may be driven in any suitable manner. The upper run of conveyor C is supported by the upper rail sections 32 of FIGURE 3 along which it travels from left to right, as viewed and indicated bythe arrows in FIGURES 1 and 2, and the lower run is supported by and travels along the lower rail sections 32 from right to left. The upper rail sections 32 of the housings 2 are accurately aligned in a horizontal plane, as are the lower ones, as will be understood.

The cross rods 36 of the conveyor C are connected by flights or links 40 of substantially U-shape extending inwardly betwe'en the runs of the conveyor and each having a central outwardly extending nger 41. Plates and other articles of flatware are inserted edgewise into the flights 40, at the feed end of the machine and, after being washed and rinsed, are removed at the delivery end. Smaller articles such as cups, glasses, cutlery and the like are placed in open work baskets or racks which are set upon the upper run of the conveyor for travel therewith.

While we have shown the rail track sections 32 and the associated mounting means therefor as used in a flight conveyor type of machine, by way of example, they may be used equally well in other types of machines. In the known stationary rack or door type of dishwashing machine, the articles to be washed are placed in a basket or rack which is set upon tracks or supports and remains stationary during the washing and rinsing operations. Also, in the known rack conveyor type of machine, racks containing articles to be washed are placed upon tracks along which the racks are moved by a reciprocating rack or pawl bar or other suitable means. The sections 32 and mounting means therefor of our invention may be used to advantage in either the stationary rack type machine or the rack conveyor type of machine. In each of such two machines the lower rail sections 32 are not required and may be removed. Accordingly, the section or module 2 provided with the rail sections 32 and associated mounting means of our invention is readily adaptable for use in any one of the three types of dishwashing machines above mentioned.

As above indicated, and as will be understood, changes in detail may be resorted to without departing from the iield and scope of our invention `and we intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of our invention has been disclosed.

We claim:

1. In a dishwashing machine module, a substantially rectangular box-like housing having a front wall and a back wall, each of said walls having at each end thereof an inwardly extending vertical ange, track section mounting members secured on the inner faces of said flanges, track sections at the inner faces of said walls and extending between said mounting members, and means at the ends of said track sections effective in cooperation with said mounting members for removably mounting said track sections on said anges and restraining said track sections against downward movement.

2. A dishwashing machine module as dened in claim 1 and in which said mounting members and said means at the ends of said track sections are disposed in abutting relation and said track sections provide compres,- sion members extending between said flanges and resisting inward movement thereof.

3. A dishwashing machine module as dened in claim 1 and in which said mounting members are in the form of brackets respectively having two vertically spaced studs extending inwardly of said module and said means at the ends of said track sections comprises tabs extending toward the front and back walls of said module and having vertical slots extending from their lower ends and receiving said stubs.

4. A dishwashing machine module as dened in claim 3 and in which said brackets are -xed at their outer portions to said flanges and have their inner portions offset inwardly from said anges and said tabs seat tightly against said brackets.

5. A dishwashing machine as defined in claim 3 and in which said track sections respectively comprise an outer vertical flange and a horizontal track ange extending from said vertical flange inwardly of said module and said tabs extend from the ends of said vertical ange outwardly of said module and seat tightly against said brackets.

`6. A dishwashing machine as dened in claim 3 and in which said track sections comprise an outer vertical flange, a horizontal track flange extending from the lower edge of said vertical ange inwardly of said module, and a second vertical flange extending downwardly from the inner edge of said horizontal flange, and said tabs extend outwardly from the ends of said irst vertical ange and seat against said brackets.

7. A dishwashing machine module as dened in claim 4 and in which means is provided effective for restraining the ends of said track sections against upward movement relative to said brackets.

8. A dishwashing machine module as defined in claim 7 and in which said restraining means comprises a clip engaging over the upper portion of said bracket and tab and having an opening snugly receiving one of said studs.

9. A dishwashing machine module as defined in claim 8 and in which said clip is formed of spring steel and has an inner arm extending downwardly along the inner face of said tab and provided with an opening snugly receiving the upper one of said two studs.

10. A dishwashing machine module as dened in claim 9 and in which said inner arm of said clip is provided at its lower end with a gripping flange extending away from the inner face of said tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,569,158 1/1926 Tobey 312-343 X 2,611,530 9/1952 George. 2,633,399 3/1953 Haas 134-165 X 2,665,103 1/1954 Llora et al 24-81 X 2,695,806 11/1954 Balint. 2,891,809 6/1959 West etal. 3,015,3 82 1/1962 Kaufmann 198-204 X 3,119,643 1/1964 Levi et a1 312-343 3,120,303 2/ 1964 Leonard 198-204 2,644,473 7/1953 Fox et al. 134-165 X 2,947,311 8/1960 Fox etal 134-72 X FOREIGN PATENTS 966,695 10/ 1950 France. 410,209 5 1934 Great Britain.

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner. L. L. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

